What’s Open During COVID-19: Hot Tips for Your 2020 Portland, Maine Getaway
Feeling a little cabin fever and needing to get away safely during a global pandemic? Here in Maine we’ve been social distancing well before it was cool! With lots of open spaces, the fresh sea breeze, and the best food in the country (according to Bon Appetit and People Magazine), Portland and the greater southern Maine coastal area is the perfect place to escape from home safely.
Keeping Up with Our Foodie Reputation
Here in Portland, we enjoy being outside and when things started to re-open after in-home quarantine, being outdoors became a necessity. And out of this necessity came the hot new place to dine in Portland: The Eastern Promenade!
Okay, this isn’t actually new. The Eastern Prom is Portland’s largest outdoor park, with fields, trails, a playground, tennis and basketball courts, and of course, sweeping views of Casco Bay. Nowadays, when you take a walk you won’t just smell the fresh salty air on the breeze but also donuts, coffee, tacos, sushi rolls, and insane sandwiches, just to name a few. On any given day there are tons of food trucks lining the side of the street. All of them have markers for social distancing, signs for face masks, and hand sanitizer outside, to make it easy and safe to have a perfect picnic on the prom. Grab a Maple Creemee from Maine Maple Creemee Co. and enjoy the summer sun!
Brewski Anyone?
We love our beer as much as you do and Portland’s brewery scene is off-the-wall. Don’t you worry about missing out because the breweries are here and ready for you. Some of the breweries, like Rising Tide, have paired up with a couple local food trucks to become a restaurant. They have tents out in the parking lot, with tables spaced 6 feet apart, and a host who will seat you. You can safely enjoy a pint, and some wood-fired pizza cooked in a truck!
Don’t forget your masks, because they are required in all businesses except when you’re seated for eating and drinking. Breweries have spaced out their seating, both inside and out. Some of the smaller breweries, like Goodfire Brewing Co., have gone to a completely contactless pick-up system. You can go on their website, order what you’d like, and pick it up. Once you have that local beer in hand, come back to The Chadwick Bed & Breakfast and enjoy it that evening around our backyard fire pit!
Shopping & Dining Al Fresco
One of our favorite things that has changed for the better during this pandemic is that several streets in the Old Port have been closed to normal traffic and now are pedestrian only. This gives restaurants more room for al fresco dining and shops the chance to show off their wares outside. Places like The Highroller Lobster Co. used to only have indoor seating but now have an extensive patio. Central Provisions, the perfect place for a fancy dinner, now has an entire street dedicated to their diners.
If you are starving for live music, Portland Lobster Company has a variety of musicians every single day. With weather coverage from sun or rain over their entire deck, you can come rain or shine. And, don’t forget dessert! If you haven’t been to Gross Confection Bar, a restaurant dedicated to all things dessert, you’re missing out on LIFE. We haven’t met a local that doesn’t go weak in the knees just mentioning their name in conversation. With the multitude of restaurants in the city, you have plenty of choices every day of the week!
Ready to plan your Portland, Maine Getaway?
If you think that COVID-19 has ruined all your summer fun, we at The Chadwick Bed & Breakfast are here to assure you, it has not. Pack all your fanciest face masks (to match your outfits, obviously) and come visit Portland, Maine. We promise you won’t be disappointed. We can’t wait to see you–from a safe 6 feet away, of course!